Red and yellow trees and a bright autumn sun provided the backdrop yesterday afternoon during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Centre Community Skate Park at Tussey Mountain.

Skateboarders, in-line skaters and BMX riders will have a safe, legal environment to practice their sport beginning in May 2001, said Anne Stokes, Stand for Children community coordinator.

"We needed a safe place for our kids to skate in," Stokes said. "Because they can't skate downtown or on the State College campus, they were pushed to skate under freeway overpasses or in parking garages. We thought that this park was necessary before one of our kids were hurt."

The Centre County "Skate Board" Steering Committee, a non-profit organization, has been working for five years to provide children with an environment to practice their sport. The first stage of construction, which will include laying a 15,000 square foot concrete ramp base, as well as lights, landscaping, fences and walkways, began with the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday.

"It's great. I'm really excited about the park," said Joe Cummins, a freshman at State College Area High School and a member of the Skate Board.

Cummins helped to raise over $2,300 for the first stage of construction through a fund-raiser that he organized last year.

The engineering company responsible for designing the park has outlined a 23,000 square foot center that will feature 20 ramps. The park will be open nine or 10 months of the year, excluding the snow season, and will cost $8 for a day pass, Stokes said. There will also be opportunities to skate at an hourly rate or buy a season pass.

"We've been looking for locations and sponsors, and it finally came together," said Kathy Matason, Skate Board treasurer. "It was nice to have this reality today."

Donations for the first stage of the park came from many organizations, including $35,000 from the State College Borough and $10,000 from Airwalk, a national company specializing in skating gear that used to be based in Boalsburg.

The second stage of construction will include the "Buy-a-Ramp" campaign that will begin before the end of the year.

The committee expects to raise at least $152,000 to purchase graphite and wooden ramps.

"We want to improve, in tangible ways, the community in which our children live," Stokes said. "Stand for Children and the Skate Board are very excited to see the completion of phase one of this park."